Historical Essay © Andreas Parsch

Revere (Tracor) RCU-2/ADR-8

The ADR-8 (originally designated RCU-2/B before June 1963) was a 69.85 mm (2.75") folding-fin chaff-dispensing rocket. It was developed by Tracor in the 1960s as XADR-8A under Quick Reaction Contract (QRC) 142 to provide B-52 Stratofortress bombers with a chaff rocket, and was mass-produced as the ADR-8A by Revere Copper & Brass.

The ADR-8A was fired from Boeing AN/ALE-25 forward-firing chaff rocket pods, which were about 4 m (13 ft) long, weighed 500 kg (1100 lb), and contained 20 rockets. The rockets could be fired either manually or automatically. B-52G/H aircraft modified to use the AN/ALE-25 carried two pods, mounted on small pylons located at the wing leading edge between the engine pylons. The AN/ALE-25 was part of the B-52's Phase IV ECM modifications of the 1964/66 time frame, and eventually all B-52G/Hs were retrofitted with this modification. In September 1970, the AN/ALE-25 was retired from service. The pylons on the B-52s have been retained, however, and are sometimes used to carry AN/ALQ-119(V) ECM pods or various types of instrumentation pods.

Except for the diameter of 63.5 mm (2.5 in), I have no details about the configuration of the ADR-8A rocket.

[1] Dennis R. Jenkins, Brian Rogers: "Boeing B-52G/H Stratofortress", Aerofax, 1990
[2] Joseph F. Baugher: Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Manufacturer: Revere.